10 Best Jazz Albums of 2012

As I mentioned last year, I am well aware that there are a lot of people who do not care for “best” or “top 10” being used when it comes to recognizing outstanding achievement, especially when it comes to music. For those of you that applies to, you are welcome to call it my “favorites”, if you wish. This list is simply the opinion of one man, and I always welcome your feedback. There were a lot of great albums that came out this year, and these rose to the top. Enjoy!

1. Christian aTunde Adjuah – Christian Scott (Concord Jazz – July 31, 2012) CLICK HERE TO BUY

2. Ode – Brad Mehldau (Nonesuch – March 20, 2012) CLICK HERE TO BUY

3. Seeds From the Underground – Kenny Garrett (Mack Avenue – April 10, 2012) CLICK HERE TO BUY

4. My Muse – George Cables (HighNote – September 11, 2012) CLICK HERE TO BUY

5. The Monk Project – Jimmy Owens (Ipo – January 3, 2012) CLICK HERE TO BUY

6. Alive at the Vanguard – Fred Hersch Trio (Palmetto Records, September 11, 2012) CLICK HERE TO BUY

7. The Art of Dreaming – Jacques Schwarz-Bart Quartet (Aztec Musique – March 6, 2012) CLICK HERE TO BUY

8. Angelic Warrior – Tia Fuller (Mack Avenue – September 25, 2012) CLICK HERE TO BUY

9. Somewhere in the Night – Bobby Hutcherson (Kind of Blue – October 16, 2012) CLICK HERE TO BUY

10. Be Still – Dave Douglas (Green Leaf Records – September 25, 2012) CLICK HERE TO BUY

Other Notable Albums:

Spirit Fiction by Ravi Coltrane

Another Country by Cassandra Wilson

Hot House by Chick Corea and Gary Burton

Dear Diz by Arturo Sandoval

Takin’ it There by Graham Dechter

The Baddest Monk by Eric Reed

Locked Down by Dr. John

St. Peter & 57th St. by The Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Down Home by Curtis Fuller

For the Moment by The Bob Mintzer Big Band

The Well by Tord Gustavsen

Where Do You Start by Brad Mehldau

Number Five by Tom Harrell

Glad Rag Doll by Diana Krall

All Our Reasons by Billy Hart

Not Getting Behind is the New Getting Ahead by Charlie Hunter

Accelerando by Vijay Iyer

Come Sunday by Charlie Haden

Signing by Joe Locke

The Absence by Melody Gardot

Free Magic by Medeski, Martin & Wood

Wonderful! Wonderful! by Joey DeFrancesco

Be Good by Gregory Porter

The Continents by Chick Corea

The Mothership Returns by Return to Forever

Triveni II by Avishai Cohen

Live in Hollywood by Poncho Sanchez

An Attitude for Gratitude by Matt Wilson

Gouache by Jacky Terrasson

Songs of Earth by Jessica Williams

Related posts:

10 Best Jazz Albums of 2011

 

Groove Notes Top 10 Jazz CD’s of 2010

People love lists. And Groove Notes isn’t shy about posting them. There were some great albums that came out in the last year, and in no particular order, here are my ten favorites from 2010.

1. Highway Rider by Brad Mehldau (Nonesuch, March 16, 2010) CLICK HERE TO BUY

2. Decisive Steps by Tia Fuller (Mack Avenue, March 16, 2010) CLICK HERE TO BUY

3. Jasmine by Keith Jarrett/Charlie Haden (ECM Records, May 25th, 2010) CLICK HERE TO BUY

4. Music Redeems by The Marsalis Family (Marsalis Music, August 24, 2010) CLICK HERE TO BUY

5. Tribal by Dr. John (429 Records, August 3, 2010) CLICK HERE TO BUY

6. Straight Ahead by Hadley Caliman (Origin Records, January 19, 2010) CLICK HERE TO BUY

7. Stanley Clarke Band by Stanley Clarke (Heads Up, June 15, 2010) CLICK HERE TO BUY

8. The Cycle of Love by Maurice Brown (Brown Records, April 20, 2010) CLICK HERE TO BUY

9. Groove Alchemy by Stanton Moore (Telarc, April 13, 2010) CLICK HERE TO BUY

10. Whirl by Fred Hersch Trio (Palmetto Records, June 21, 2010) CLICK HERE TO BUY

Honorable Mentions:

Providencia by Danilo Perez CLICK HERE TO BUY

Orchestrion by Pat Metheny CLICK HERE TO BUY

Reverse Thread by Regina Carter CLICK HERE TO BUY

Mirror by Charles Lloyd Quartet CLICK HERE TO BUY

Home by Jane Monheit CLICK HERE TO BUY

A Time For Love by Arturo Sandoval CLICK HERE TO BUY